Electrical wall socket



May 15, 1928. 1,669,666

- H. F. LAUB ELECTRICAL WALL SOCKET Filed July 5. 1923 i. w y,

vwentoz QZ 3fm QMZS @1f/towing Patented May l5, 1928.

HENRY F. LAUB, 0F LOGAN',l UTAH. l

ELECTRICAL WALL SOCKET.

Appucauon inea July s,

This invention is an electrical wall socket, or as it may be designated,a flush receptacle adapted for installation in a wall to occupy a flushrelation, or substantially flush relation thereto,

The salient feature of the invention is a switch mechanism unitary withthe wall socket and aifording means for the attachment of a plug in amanner to complete the electrical connection between certain feedconductors of the wall socket and the conductors usually encased in acord for supplying said current to any one of a number of articles ofhousehold utility, such for ex-` ample as an electric fan, vacuumcleaner, etc. c

The switch mechanism of my invention is mounted for rotative movementwithin the wall socket, `and in one position of said switch theelectrical .circuit is interrupted, whereas in a reverse position of theswitch the circuit is completed. The rotative switch member isconstructed for co-operation with the cord plug, and when said cord-plug is inserted into the rotative switch member, said cord plugaffords means for manually rotating the switch member with the socket soas to shift the 'switch terminals with reference to the feeder terminalsin a manner to complete or to interrupt the electrical circuit.

Other functions and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein-Figure l is a front elevation of my wall socket with parts in dottedlines, the cord plug'being omitted.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation through the wall socket onthe dotted line 2--2 of Figure l, the cord plug being attached.

Figure 3 is a detached View of the back member of the wall socket,illustrating the feeder terminals and the switch terminals in thepositions they occupy relatively to each other when-the circuit isinterrupted.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section through the wall socket on theline 4 4 ofv Figure 1, the cord plug being attached as in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail section on the line 5 5 ofFigure 1, and

Figure 6 isa rear elevation of the rotative switch member with theswitch terminals attached thereto.

1923. smal No. 649,208.

A designates the casing of the wall receptacle or socket, the same beingof any appropriate form and ldimensions and composedof material suitablefor the purpose. The receptacle is provided with a back member Bseparably lattached thereto by bolts or screws b which pass through thereceptacle and fasten in position on the front of said receptacle theholding members or plates C. The receptacle is formed ,with acylindrical opening d, enlarged at the rear toproduce a shoulder d, andWithin `the opening istitted a cylindrical switch member or bushing D,the same being provi-ded near its rear with a circumferential flange eadaptedl to coact with shoulderd in retaining the bushing againstoutward displacement relatively to the casing while at the same timepermitting the bushing to have rotative movement within said casingwhereby the bushing is adapted to serve the function of a rotativeswitch member. i

The bushing is provided with a plurality of sockets f within which yareencased the spring contacts F, the end of each contact being held inplace'by a screw f. This screw passes to the rear of the bushing, and itfastens in place a switch terminal G, two of said terminals G G beingpositioned against the rear' end face of the bushing, radially thereon,as shown in Figure 6, said in place by the screws f and being inelectrical connection with the contacts F, see

Figures 2 and 4.

The separable back plate B of the receptacle carries a plurality vofarcuate feeder terminals H H which are positioned in the path of theswitch terminals G G so that in one position of the bushing the switchterminals G G are free from contact with the feeder terminals H H asshown in Figure 3 to' interrupt the current, but when the bushing orswitch member is given a quarter turn the switch terminals makeelectrical contact with the feeder terminals H H as shown by dottedlines in Figures 1 and 3 to close the circuit. Said feeder terminals areshown as spring plates which are of arcuate form to lie in the path ofthe switch terminals, and these feeder terminals on the separable backplate B are held in place and are electrically connected to metal platesI by screws It, said plates I being on the back plate Band said plates Ibeing electrically plates J positioned in recesses j provided in thefront lof receptacle A at the corners thereof. The front feed plates Jare held in place by the screws h and to the feed plates J are attachedthe feeders K K by the binding screws lc. Y

L is an ordinary cord plug provided with contacts m, m, and M is theusual cord with conductors therein, said cord plug having a milled edgem. This cord plug is adaptf ed to be attached .to the bushing D bythrusting the contacts m, m, into the sockets f, thus bringing thecontacts m, m, intoelectrical engagement with the contacts F F, seeFigures 2 and 4, whereby the plug is connected mechanically to thebushing so as to aord means for the manual rotation of said bushingwhich is encased within the wall receptacle. The plug having beencoupled to the bushing, the operator now proceeds to turn the plug andthe bushing for a quarter turn, and this shifts the switch lterminals GG into electrical contact with the feeder terminals H H, completing thecircuit from the feeders K K to the wires of the cord. To interrupt thecircuit, the plug L is turned in a reverse directionl for shiftingterminals G G out of contact with the feeder terminals H H (see Figure3), and thereupon the plug L can be withdrawn by pulling the contacts mm out of the sockets f and away from the contacts F.

My invention provides means within the wall socket or receptacle itselfand operable at will for switching the current on and off, obviating thenecessity for dismounting the cord plug from the socket to interrupt thecircuit and of replacing the cord plug to switch on the current.`

In my electrical wall fixture, the casing is open at the front and therear, and the rear open side is closed by-a back plate, the 'latterbeing separate from the casing and .being detachably fixed thereto. Thefeeder terminals H, H', are yieldable and are attached directly to theback plate, so that the back plate and the feederterminals are de-Amountable as a unit, thus providing for inspection, cleaning and repairswith facility. Said yieldable feeder terminals are in mechanicalengagement with the switch-block D, and said spring terminals applypressure to the switch member for retaining the latter within the casingfor the shoulder d of the switch member to have mechanical engagementwith the shoulder d of the casing, said shoulders d, al of the switchmember and the casing respectively co-operating in precluding the switchmember from sliding within the casing, whereby the plug L and itsterminals F may be disconnected from the switch member D without pullingt-he latter out of the casing or disturbing the position of said Switchmember within the casing.

Having thus fully described the inven switch member being substantiallyflush,

with the open front and rear of said casing, said switch member beingprovided with pockets, terminal contacts within said pockets, aplurality of switch contacts attached to the rear face of saidswitch-member and electrically connected with said encased terminalcontacts, a back plate separate from said casing, means 'for detachablyand fixedly fastening said back plate to the casing, and yieldablefeeder-terminals fastened directly to the back plate and in opposing reslation to the switch contacts for electrical contact therewith when theswitch member occupies an operative position, said back plate and thefeeder terminals being dcmountable and attachable as a unit with respectto the casing and the switch member.

2. An electrical fixture mountable in Hush relation to the surface of awall comprising a casing provided with a cylindrical opening extendingfrom the front to the rear o said casing, a back plate separate from thecasing and attached thereto for closing the rear part of the casing, aplurality of yield ing feeder terminals iixedly attached directly tosaid back plate, a, switch-member substantially filling said cylindricalopening and free to rotate therein, said switch member being provided'with encased terminal contacts, switch terminals fastened to the rearface of the switch-member and posi; tioned for electrical contact withthe feeder terminals, and co-operating means on the casing and theswitch member for arresting sliding movement of the switch memberrelatively to said casing, said back plate and the feeder terminalsbeing attachable and detachable as a unit relatively to'the casing andthe switch terminals.

3. An electrical fixture mountable in flush tached directly to the backplate and def mountable therewith from said casing, circuit-contactsfastened to the rear of the switch member and in facing relation to thefeeder terminals, means for retaining the switch member from slidingmovement within the casing, and a plug rovided with 4. An electricalWall fixture embodying acasing provided with acylindrical opening, thelatter being reduced in diameter near the rear and producing acylindrical shoulder, a back plate fastened detachably to the rear partof said casing, a switch-member provided with a shoulder, sai-d switchmember being fitted rotatably Within the cylin drical opening for theshoulder thereon to have contact with the shoulder of the casing,wherebyendwise movement of the switch member within the casing isarrested -by the co-operating shoulders, switch-contacts on the switchmember, and yielding feeder-contacts supported by the back plate, saidfeeder-contacts being in mechanical e11- gagement with the switch-memberfor applying pressure thereto and operating to retain the shoulder ofthe switch memberv in engagement with the shoulder of the casing,

and a plug attached to the switch member and affording means for themanual rotation of the switch member.

In testimony whereof I'have hereto signed my name this 27 th day' of 'June, 1923.

' HENRY F. LAUB.

